James Smyre is a depth edge defender with developing upside for UAB
James Smyre enters 2026 as a **senior** DE for UAB with a background as a productive high-school tackler and a college role that has been more rotational than featured; in 2025 he appeared in eight games and finished with six tackles, while earlier UAB seasons show modest production (9 tackles, 2 TFL, 2 sacks in 2024). His appeal is less about box-score volume and more about his measurables and athletic profile: EA’s College Football 26 rates him 68 overall with strong jumping, stamina, toughness, and tackle attributes. He looks like a fit for teams needing a disciplined, developmental edge body rather than an instant-impact pass rusher.[1][4][9]
